A US Christian group that once promoted therapy to encourage gays and lesbians to overcome their sexual preferences has closed its doors and apologized to those who underwent treatment, acknowledging its mission had been hurtful and ignorant.
Exodus International billed itself as the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality, operating since 1976.
The Irvine, California-based group’s board unanimously voted to cease operations, Exodus International said in a statement on its website on June 19.
Photo: AFP
照片：法新社
“We have made a number of mistakes with how we treated people, based on our beliefs,” President Alan Chambers said. “I recognize that our beliefs have to change, but I’d never distance myself from the church.”
Chambers declined to estimate how many people underwent therapy, saying it was impossible to calculate because it was practiced by some 260 Exodus International-affiliated ministries across North America.
“I am sorry for the pain and hurt that many of you have experienced,” Chambers said in the statement. “I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents.”
(Reuters)
美國一個曾推廣以治療來鼓勵男女同性戀者戰勝自己性取向的基督教團體，已關門大吉，並向那些接受過治療的人致歉，該組織承認其施行的任務傷害他人，且是愚昧的。
「出埃及國際」自許是著墨信仰與同性戀議題最久、最龐大的基督教組織，其運作始於一九七六年。
這個總部設在加州爾灣的「出埃及國際」組織於六月十九日，在其網站上聲明指出，其董事會無異議投票決定結束運作。
該組織主席艾倫‧錢伯斯表示：「我們基於我們的信念，在治療人們的方式上，犯了一些錯誤。」他說：「我承認我們的信念必須改變，但我絕不會疏離教會。」
錢伯斯拒絕估算有多少人接受治療，表示因為北美約有兩百六十個「出埃及國際」附屬機構施行相關療法，所以難以統計。
錢伯斯在聲明中說：「我對於你們許多人經歷的痛苦與傷害感到抱歉。」他說：「我對於我們宣傳性取向改變的努力，以及讓父母蒙受恥辱的性取向拗直理論感到抱歉。」
（路透／翻譯：魏國金）
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